By Adul Kimera
Having been elected as New York governor for three terms from 2010, Cuomo’s resignation announcement yesterday, Tuesday, at a press conference, marked a dramatic fall for this politician who has dominated nearly 11 years of state government.
A father to three daughters, and divorced husband to Kerry Kennedy ( daughter of Robert. F. Kennedy), Cuomo said that “ given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is to step aside and let government get back to governing”.
The announcement of the resignation that would be effective in 14 days, came at the time when the state attorney general Letitia James released report results of her investigation last week and the NewYork assembly speaker Carl E . Heastie announced that the governor had lost confidence of the assembly and that he can no longer remain in office.
Also public polls taken this month found out that most NewYorker’s including fellow democrats wanted Cuomo to resign having lost support from most of NewYork congressional delegation, democratic senators and also the president him self.
The 165-page report commissioned by fellow democrat james, found out that Cuomo allegedly harassed women inside and out side his office with kissing, unwanted touching and inappropriate comments. The report also included details of an alleged incident in November when Cuomo embraced his executive assistant and reached her under blouse to grab her breast.
The report concluded that from more than 100 witnesses there is evidence to substantiate claims against him by 11 women.
Cuomo’s public popularity from his father (Mario Cuomo) also ex NewYork governor, made him attract a wide spread acclaim last year for his handling of the pandemic in the NewYork city which also made him win a special Emmy award for his daily televised briefings.
Cuomo will now be replaced by his deputy and also NewYork’s first female governor Lt. Gov. Kathy Houchul, who will serve until the next election, in November 2022.
